Blogs

Originally appeared in Kolleen's Huffington Post blog, she writes about the 19th International AIDS Society Conference's opening session highlighting the World Bank's Dr. Jim Kim and the noticeable lack of tuberculosis mentioned.

To bring attention to the need for increased investment in research and development for tuberculosis, ACTION, in partnership with TB Alliance and Aeras, is hosting a free, public session at the 2012 International AIDS Conference, called Saving Lives Through Research & Development: Developing Better Technologies to Address TB/HIV. Global Village’s TB-HIV Networking Zone, Exhibit Hall C, Booth #64, International AIDS Conference, Washington Conference Center, Washington, D.C.

On the second day of the 19th International AIDS Conference convening in Washington, DC, the government of Spain announced that it would contribute 10 million euros to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Kolleen Bouchane, ACTION Director, issued the following statement in response:

Today, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria released its newest impact figures detailing historic progress. Yet, despite these successes, the Global Fund’s future is fragile. In November of last year, the Global Fund cancelled its 11th round of funding, putting the life-saving work of Global Fund supported countries and implementers at risk.

The message from global health heroes at both the RESULTS International Conference and the International AIDS Conference (IAC), overlapping today in Washington, D.C. is clear: the progress on HIV/AIDS has been spurred in a meaningful way by the loud voices of strong advocates. "We need advocates to push us very hard."

The GAVI Alliance provides the world's poorest countries access to life-saving vaccines at drastically reduced prices. The catch? The poorest countries can be fairly unstable, or have low performing health systems.

ACTION partners from 10 countries will come together at the 2012 International AIDS Conference (IAC) starting on July 22 in Washington, D.C. As U.S. and global policymakers’ attention turns to the IAC--and international and domestic HIV/AIDS policy--the moment has never been better to redouble advocacy efforts.